AMHERST — The Emily Dickinson Museum will celebrate the completion of the reconstruction of the Carriage House and the reopening of The Evergreens with a ribbon- cutting ceremony, hosted in partnership with the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce and the Amherst Business Improvement District (BID).
The ceremony will take place on May 6, from 5 to 6 p.m. at 280 Main St. in Amherst.
The Emily Dickinson Museum has completed the reconstruction of the carriage house that once stood to the east of The Evergreens, the home of Emily Dickinson’s brother, Austin, and his wife Susan. Along with reconstructing the historical appearance of the carriage house, the museum prioritized sustainability with the goal of achieving passive house certification from the Passive House Institute US Inc. It is the first passive commercial building in Amherst, as well as the first passive museum building and passive historic house reconstruction in the country.
The carriage house will initially serve as a site for visitor welcome, orientation, and museum shop, while also enabling the third and final phase of the Dickinson Homestead restoration. Additionally, The Evergreens will reopen to the public on May 1, after being closed in August 2024 due to the carriage house construction project.
“Opening the carriage house is a significant milestone in long-range goals for the Emily Dickinson Museum established more than 20 years ago,” said Jane Wald, the Jane and Robert Keiter Family executive director of the Emily Dickinson Museum. “By moving some functions into the carriage house, the museum can more quickly complete the last phase of restoring Emily Dickinson’s Homestead so that her daily life and literary legacy can be more fully presented and appreciated in the place it was created. Moreover, we couldn’t be more pleased that this commitment to passive house construction and environmental responsibility reflects Dickinson’s regard for the natural world and the inspiration she drew from it.”
“We’re honored to partner with the Emily Dickinson Museum and the Amherst BID in celebrating this important milestone in the museum’s restoration journey,” said Jacob Robinson, executive director of the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce. “The reconstruction of the Carriage House honors the enduring legacy of the Dickinson family in Amherst and reinforces Amherst’s role as a center for literary and cultural tourism.”
Said John Page, executive director of the Amherst Business Improvement District, “we’re thrilled to see the carriage house reconstruction completed and to support projects that celebrate our community’s cultural and historic assets. Events like this highlight the vibrancy of our local partnerships and the exciting momentum in Amherst.”
This event is free and open to the public, no RSVP required.
In addition to the ribbon cutting ceremony on May 6, the Emily Dickinson Museum will host its annual Poetry Walk through downtown Amherst on May 10, in honor of the 139th anniversary of the poet’s death. This is a free public program. To learn more about Poetry Walk, visit EmilyDickinsonMuseum.org/poetry-walk-2025/
